Submit your Article

Chimpvine, an ed-tech startup, announced the launch of its gamified e-learning platform for consumers. The platform is scheduled to launch next week and will be available to consumers nationwide. The new gamified e-learning platform offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that enables learners to easily navigate and select courses for children from PreK to Grade 8. The games are based on the Nepali curriculum and cover major subjects such as English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. It offers an exciting and engaging way for individuals to learn and improve their knowledge and skills. Additionally, the platform includes interactive tools such as quizzes and flashcards to enhance their learning experience. “Our mission is to make learning fun and accessible to everyone,” said Sashya Poudel, the Executive Director of ChimpVine. “We believe that by gamifying the learning experience, we can help people stay motivated and engaged, and ultimately achieve better results.” “We know that children are into mobile phones and gadgets and it’s impossible to stop them from using such gadgets as the world is moving forward with technologies. That’s why we’ve created a platform where children can productively utilize their screen time,” said Shristi Shrestha, Sales Head of ChimpVine.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Monday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 109, 000 per tola today. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 109, 200 per tola on Sunday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 108, 500 per tola. It was traded at Rs 108, 700. Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,360 per tola today.

There has been a significant shift in the lifestyle and usage of daily amenities by households in Nepal in the last 10 years. An increasing number of Nepali households are now using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a primary fuel source for cooking, and there has been a marked rise in the number of Nepalis owning televisions, laptops/computers, mobile phones, cars, and motorcycles. According to the National Census 2021, which was made public on Friday, traditional fuels like firewood and cow dung are still in use, but there has been a noticeable increase in the adoption of LPG and electricity. The Census 2021 reveals that the percentage of households using LPG as their primary source of cooking fuel has increased from 21.03 percent in 2011 to 44.3 percent in 2021. In 2011, firewood was the most commonly used fuel source for cooking in Nepali households, with 64 percent of households relying on it. However, this figure has dropped to 51 percent in 2021, indicating a shift towards cleaner and more sustainable fuel alternatives. The Census 2021 indicates a significant decrease in the use of kerosene as a primary source of cooking fuel, from 1.03 percent of households in 2011 to just 0.05 percent in 2021. In 2011, biogas was used by 2.43 percent of households, but this percentage dropped to 1.2 percent in 2021. Similarly, the use of cow-dung as a primary fuel source for cooking decreased from 10.38 percent of households in 2011 to just 2.9 percent in 2021. Although the Census reports a significant increase in the adoption of cleaner fuel alternatives, the use of electricity as a primary cooking fuel remains low, with only 0.5 percent of households using it in 2021. The Census 2021 also shed light on interesting facts about the usage of amenities in Nepali homes. According to the census, Nepalis are increasingly opting for smartphones over basic mobile phones, with the ownership of the former surpassing the latter. Additionally, more Nepalis are investing in televisions, while radio ownership is declining. Thanks to the expansion of telecom infrastructure, mobile telephony has replaced basic telephony, leading to a surge in mobile handset ownership and internet subscribership over the last decade. As per the Census, the percentage of households with ordinary mobile phones has increased to 73.15 percent in 2021, up from 64.63 percent in 2011. Furthermore, 37.72 percent of households now have internet facilities, compared to just 3.33 percent in 2011. The percentage of households with computers or laptops has also seen an increase from 7.28 percent in 2011 to 15 percent in 2021. In terms of appliances, the percentage of households with televisions has risen from 36.45 percent in 2011 to 49.37 percent in 2021. Refrigerator ownership has also seen a significant increase, with the percentage of households owning one jumping from 7.16 percent in 2011 to 23.7 percent in 2021. The Census also reveals a significant increase in motorcycle ownership as a means of transport in the country. The percentage of households with bicycles has increased from 32.38 percent in 2011 to 35.21 percent in 2021. Meanwhile, motorcycle ownership has seen a tremendous increase, rising from 9.58 percent in 2011 to 27.3 percent in 2021. The percentage of households with cars, jeeps, or vans has also gone up from 1.57 percent in 2011 to 3.1 percent in 2021. An increasing number of Nepali households now have access to tap or piped water facilities, which is a positive development toward ensuring safe and clean drinking water for all. According to the census data, the percentage of households with access to tap or piped water facilities has increased from 47.78 percent in 2011 to 57 percent in 2021. In contrast, the percentage of households relying on wells or hand pumps for their drinking water has decreased from 35.1 percent in 2011 to 29.8 percent in 2021. The Census 2021 also revealed that access to electricity in Nepal has significantly improved over the last decade, thanks to the completion of more hydropower projects. The data shows that the percentage of households using electricity as their primary source of lighting has jumped from 67.3 percent in 2011 to an impressive 92.2 percent in 2021. As the access to electricity has increased, the use of kerosene as a source of lighting has witnessed a sharp decline. In 2011, 18.3 percent of households relied on kerosene as their primary lighting source, while in 2021, only 0.6 percent of households used this method. The census also revealed that the use of solar energy as the primary lighting source has decreased slightly, from 7.44 percent in 2011 to 6.6 percent in 2021. These figures indicate a significant improvement in access to electricity across the country, particularly in rural areas. The census provides important data on the country's labor force, showing that a significant portion of the population is engaged in economic activities. Of the total population of 23,958,868 aged 10 years or above, 15,689,777 persons (65.5 percent) are economically active, while 8,211,012 persons (34.3 percent) are not economically active. According to the census data, 9.4 percent of households in the country are involved in operating small-scale enterprises other than agriculture. Among these households, the majority operate trade/business (49.5 percent), followed by cottage industry (21.9 percent), service-related businesses (11 percent), transportation businesses (5.5 percent), and other types of small-scale enterprises (12 percent). Of the total population of 23,958,868 aged 10 years or above, 15,689,777 persons (65.5 percent) are economically active, while 8,211,012 persons (34.3 percent) are not economically active. Of the total economically active population of 15,689,777 persons aged 10 years or above, 11,038,105 persons (70.35 percent) are usually economically active, while 4,651,672 persons (29.65 percent) are not usually economically active. Of the total usually economically active population of 11,038,105, a majority of 10,270,447 persons (93.05 percent) are usually employed, while the remaining 767,658 persons (6.95 percent) are usually unemployed. Among the total population engaged in any economic activity, the majority (50.1 percent) are skilled workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishery, followed by elementary workers (23.0 percent), service and sales workers (5.8 percent), crafts and trade workers (5.6 percent), managers (5.1 percent), professionals (3.8 percent), plant and machine operators (2.7 percent), technician and associate professionals (1.9 percent), office assistants (1.3 percent), and armed forces (0.7 percent). According to the census, the majority of economically active individuals in Nepal are engaged in the agriculture industry, accounting for 57.3 percent. Among those engaged in any economic activity, the top five industries are agriculture, forestry, and fishing at 57.3 percent, followed by wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles at 12.5 percent, construction at 8.1 percent, other service activities at 3.9 percent, and manufacturing at 3.8 percent. The number of households owning four-wheelers (jeep/car/van) has increased in the last 10 years. As of 2021, there are 204990 households in the country that own a jeep/car/van, up from 85,135 households in 2011. The number of households owning motorcycles increased to 1816121 in 2021 from 519570 households in 2011. Similarly, the number of households owning television increased to 3291185 in 2021 from 1976603 households in 2011.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) will take the necessary initiative for the auditing of some large commercial banks by international auditing firms once the International Monetary Fund (IMF) publishes its full report based on its Article IV Mission consultation to Nepal. The IMF mission in late February had asked for the auditing of the country's 10 largest commercial banks by international auditors as it cast doubt on the quality of loans provided by the Nepali banks. The Article IV consultation was carried out by combining the first and second reviews of the Nepal government’s economic programs supported by the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The audit of some large commercial banks by international auditors has been one of the conditions set by the IMF for approving the $395.9m ECF. “But it is the task to be performed after the second review of ECF to Nepal,” said an NRB official. “Article IV of the IMF just conducted a second review of the ECF in February which was supposed to be done in July last year.” Earlier, the IMF had delayed deploying its review mission showing displeasure with the Nepali government’s import restriction measures, according to the NRB officials. Once the IMF produces its final report, it is sent for approval by the Nepal government and NRB. “The finance minister and the central bank governor need to assure the IMF they will implement its recommendation before the external audit of commercial banks is conducted,” the NRB official said. Earlier, Nepal had committed to launch in-depth, on-site inspections of 10 large banks of the country assisted by a third-party international audit firm to review loan portfolios by paying special attention to loan and collateral valuation, 'evergreening' of loans, group borrowing, and concentration risks by March 2023. “It could not take place as IMF delayed conducting the second review of ECF,” the NRB official said. The external auditors are expected to examine the true status of asset quality and unearth the reality amid suspicion that there has been an 'evergreening' of loans provided for the post-Covid recovery of the Nepali economy. The IMF raised concerns about the asset quality of Nepali banks in a press statement issued after the completion of its Article IV mission. “Bank asset quality has deteriorated, reflecting a decline in the repayment capacity of borrowers due to higher lending rates and rising leverage, a concern that is moderated by banks’ capital-adequacy ratios that are above the regulatory minima,” stated the international lender. According to the IMF, discussions with NRB officials recognized the need for the central bank to ensure appropriate reclassification of loans and close monitoring of the impact of a potential deterioration in the repayment capacity of borrowers. Despite concerns about the loan quality raised by the IMF, the central bank has however presented a not-so-worrying picture of bank loans. The NRB in its latest report said the average non-performing loans (NPLs) of Nepal’s banks and financial institutions stood at just 2.63 percent of total loans by mid-February. According to the report, the average NPL of commercial banks is at 2.49 percent, development banks at 2.82 percent, and finance companies at 7.82 percent. To date, commercial banks with private investments have not got their transactions audited by foreign auditors. In the early 2000s, two government-owned banks, namely Rastriya Banijya Bank and Nepal Bank were audited by international auditing firms under the World Bank-funded financial sector reform program. Because of large-scale defaults, the financial health of these banks was very poor forcing the government to inject large amounts of money to recapitalize them. “Now that private sector banks have also emerged as too-big-to-fail institutions, it has become necessary to ensure that their financial health is sound to prevent an event of collapse,” the NRB official said.  

Considerably common, there have been instances for us all as we’ve stood up and gazed upon the night sky full of stars for the longest moments. Ever since ancient times, people have admired the beauty of stars so much as to make them the symbol of hope and a good omen. But consequently of our own actions, times have started to change so much that the sights upon nights of today are but a mere facade, and the only thing that truly remains is the darkest. In the path of change, curiosity, and discovery, human beings have lost the very source that once gave them hope and their will to survive. Moreover, throughout the generations of human advancement and evolution, such things have started to become of less significance to us as they hamper our day-to-day lives in no noticeable way. Today's generations however, could care even more or less about such problems, for they have never seen the subject of beauty and admiration that stars hold. To phrase it more precisely in simple terms, we have become so blind due to our own actions, that we are unable to see the beauty that hides in the night skies. To us humans today, the starry nights are starting to feel as though they were a relic of the distant past. This too is something for all of us to be blamed for as even the wisest of us failed to preserve the objects with such a magical and inspiring presence. Truly, we humans in the search of gold, have lost the diamonds. Subhang Shahi Grade: 9 Campion School, Lagankhel

Shivering hands gathered in the snow, Searching the rare roses of December, Some were firmly placed in a lover's palms, Some were secrets covered in thorns, A secret no one will ever know, Nor will the time remember. Yet you sit on top Of a mountain of wilting red roses Still awaiting for a white rose To blossom in spring.   Abhigya Shrestha Grade: 10 Rato Bangala School, Patan

Dark sky in the night Thousands of stars in the sky Twinkling stars in the dark in the sky Shining stars in the nights   Lots of stars in the dark night A beautiful moon in the middle of sky Star light bright in my eyes As I wish all my might   Dark sky in the night Thousands of stars in the sky The dark clouds cover the moon Looks beautiful like a swan   Abza Dhakal Grade 5, Brihaspati Vidyasadan, Naxal 

Nepal is a country that has faced challenges in achieving balanced regional development, with much of the development being concentrated in the capital city of Kathmandu while other parts of the country have lagged. Despite various efforts made by the government to address this issue, there has been limited progress in achieving equitable development across the country. Nepal has made several attempts in the past to promote regional development through administrative divisions. In 1962, the country was split into 14 zones to decentralize development and governance, but the approach was deemed bureaucratic and ineffective. In 1972, Nepal was restructured into developed regions, each with its development plans, but this approach also failed. Despite creating seven provinces in 2015 under a new constitution, the development gap between Kathmandu and other regions remains significant. The World Bank reports that poverty rates in rural Nepal are nearly triple those in urban areas.  When comparing the least developed districts to Kathmandu, the disparity is vast. The 2022 UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index shows that Nepal’s poverty rate is 42.5 percent, with more than half of those below the poverty line residing in rural areas. The Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, education, and income, highlights significant regional variations. Kathmandu’s HDI is above 0.6, while the rural districts of Rautahat and Mahottari score less than 0.4. Moreover, rural areas have limited access to essential services, such as electricity and healthcare. The 2019 Nepal Living Standards Survey indicates that only 61.8 percent of rural households have electricity access, compared to 94.3 percent in urban areas. Additionally, only 34.8 percent of health facilities are available in rural areas. The country’s interest in big projects is evident, but the ground-level work doesn't always match up. A case in point is Gautam Buddha International Airport, one of the country's megaprojects. Despite being inaugurated ten months ago, as of Feb 2023, the airport has failed to attract international passengers or airlines. This is because most administrative offices, embassies, and institutions are located in Kathmandu, making it the preferred destination for international travel. This highlights the lesson that building infrastructure alone doesn’t guarantee positive outcomes. Therefore, it's crucial to promote regional development across the country to achieve inclusive and equitable growth. While infrastructure development is essential, it must be accompanied by efforts to ensure balanced growth across the nation. The repercussions of a failed project should not be overlooked when considering another large-scale project like the Nijgadh International Airport, which not only has an estimated cost of $6.7bn but also entails the destruction of 2.4m trees, resulting in irreparable damage to the environment and wildlife. It is crucial to redirect resources and funds toward constructing essential facilities for residents instead of risking such damage. Rather, inspiration can be taken from our neighboring country Bangladesh, which has made smart investments to achieve a strong economic condition. Bangladesh offers a valuable lesson in economic growth. Its recent success can be attributed in part to the government’s investment in technology and digital infrastructure, which has led to connectivity in remote areas. The Bangladesh government has laid over 40,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable, expanding access to broadband internet and digital services. As a result, a vibrant digital economy has emerged, with the country’s e-commerce market projected to reach $14.24bn by 2025. The investment has also led to a rise in entrepreneurship and job creation, with the number of technology startups growing rapidly. Initiatives like the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ program have been launched to boost digital literacy and support entrepreneurship. Nepal, a country that shares a similar geographical size with its neighbor, Bangladesh, can draw inspiration from its successful investment in digital infrastructure and technology to enhance connectivity in remote regions. As of Jan 2022, only 37.7 percent of Nepal’s population has access to the internet, leaving ample opportunity to expand digital connectivity throughout the country.  When it comes to Nepal's infrastructural development. It has long been hampered by bureaucracy and corruption, resulting in inflated costs and delays. However, technology offers a ray of hope in overcoming these challenges, as increased connectivity and technological advancement can go a long way in solving these issues. While the country may still require significant infrastructure, policymakers must prioritize initiatives that can deliver tangible improvements in people's lives in a shorter timeframe. Notably, Mahabir Pun's achievement in connecting Nangi village to the internet in 2001 serves as a testament to the efficacy of this approach, and with technological advancements, such projects are now even more feasible. Expanding on the given information, Nepal can benefit greatly from leveraging the expertise of its diaspora living abroad to drive sustainable and regional development. With a significant number of educated Nepalese residing in countries such as the USA, Europe, and Australia, their knowledge and skills can be tapped into to drive technological advancements in their home country. National initiatives, such as Digital Nepal, can be adopted as a blueprint, just as Bangladesh did with Digital Bangladesh, to attract tech experts back to Nepal and invest in sustainable development projects. Not only can this help bridge the technology gap, but it can also curb the brain drain, enabling the country to harness the global talent pool to drive growth and development. This can lead to new job opportunities and economic growth, creating a win-win situation for both the country and its diaspora. By capitalizing on the potential of its experts and investing in technology, Nepal can pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future. Shivang Chalise Gettysburg College, USA